The Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has directed the State Board of Internal Revenue to suspend the collection of taxes in all markets across the State, with immediate effect.
The directive was contained in a press release signed by the chief press secretary to the Governor,Sir Onyebuchi Ememanka and made available to our reporter on Tuesday in Umuahia.
The Governor while addressing traders at the good morning market Aba, Abia state, said that he gave the directive to minimize the difficulties faced by traders in the aftermath of the currency redesign policy of the federal Government.
“The Currency Redesign Policy has made life difficult for the average Nigerian but the traders are worst hit. They cannot have access to the little money they have in deposit money banks and some of these businesses still exist at the subsistence level. It will therefore be difficult to expect these traders to also pay taxes to Government under the present circumstances,” Ikpeazu said.
The Governor said that the tax break will make life easier for the traders while all citizens wait patiently for the federal government to stabilize the currency situation in the country.